October 12, 2023

Your weekly newsletter from St. Mark's School

Academic Information

Family Weekend Advisor Conferences

As a part of Family Weekend programming, faculty advisors are available for 20—25 minute conferences, offered remotely and in person, to discuss each advisee's overall progress to date. Parents and guardians should have received communication directly from their student's advisor to set a time to meet. If you have not yet heard from your student's advisor to schedule a conference, please reach out to Interim Assistant Head of School/Dean of Faculty Nat Waters at natwaters@stmarksschool.org. 

Register Now for the Girls STEM Summit

For several years, St. Mark's has taken students who identify as female to the Girls STEM Summit sponsored by Junior Tech. We will once again sponsor a group of 14 to this year's summit in April being held at UMass Lowell. During the day-long event, students will listen to a keynote speaker who is a female leader in her field; then, they will attend five sessions to learn about different careers in STEM presented by women in that field. In past years, the careers discussed have included: marine biology, meteorology, civil engineering, industrial design, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical science, medicine and food engineering, and computer science. St. Mark's students who are interested in attending the summit are being asked to sign up now by replying to the email sent by Ms. Bryant earlier this week, as we need to register before the slots fill up at this statewide event!

Family Weekend Library Hours

Please note the following Library hours for the upcoming Family Weekend:

• Closed Sunday, October 15, and Monday, October 16, of Family Weekend; reopens on Tuesday, October 17, at 1:30 p.m.

The Next St. Mark's Saturdays Class is October 21

The fall semester of St. Mark's Saturdays continues on Saturday, October 21. You can read more about these courses and the alignment of experiential learning with the School mission in the course guide. 

• Mark your calendars for the remaining Fall SM Saturdays: October 21 and 28, November 11, and December 2 and 9. 
• School Meeting starts on these days at 8:40 a.m., and classes run from 9:00—11:30 a.m.
• Students must coordinate permission to miss class with the Dean of Students’ Office in advance.

Dean of Students' Office Announcements

Family Weekend Orah Sign-Outs

Students departing campus for the long weekend were reminded to submit their Orah passes in advance. This document includes reminders and helpful information.

Students' Emotional and Physical Wellness

In addition to asking your student(s) about their grades, friends, and sports, please spend some time this weekend checking in with them about their emotional and physical wellbeing. You might consider asking questions like:

• What time are you waking up? What time are you going to bed?
• How much time are you spending on your phone/computer at night?
• Are you eating breakfast every day? Should we keep snacks in your room?
• How are you handling the academic workload? How much time are you spending on homework each night? Do you feel proud of the work you are submitting?
• Do you have a trusted adult you look to for support at school?
• What is something kind you have done for another student or someone has done for you?

November Break Transportation

Information about transportation for November break will be sent out to students next week and shared in the October 19 Inside the Pride. 

November Break Dates and Planning

Students are free to leave after their last School commitment on Friday, November 17, and must depart by 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, at which time residential houses close. Boarding students must return to campus between noon and 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 27. Classes resume on Tuesday, November 28.

As your family prepares for the break, please keep in mind that St. Mark's does not excuse any early departures or late returns around our major school vacations (Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring Break). While we understand that travel convenience is a plus during these busy times, and that family engagements are important, we must do all we can to preserve our class and community time. We thank you in advance for referencing the Essential Dates calendar as you plan family travel for the School year. 

Weekend Activities

Want to know what's happening this weekend? For on-campus events and trips to off-campus locations, check out the Weekend Activities Google Doc.

Reminder: Flu Immunizations 

Please take advantage of the long Family Weekend to complete seasonal flu immunizations for your student. Most pharmacy chains such as Walgreens, CVS, Wegmans, and Hannaford have appointments that are readily available for registration online. COVID-19 vaccine administration may be available at the same appointment, as well. Documentation can be emailed to lesliedowst@stmarksschool.org.

College Counseling Preparation

SMARTTRACK Follow-up Sessions

Parents, if you have not yet registered for your free, individual follow-up session with a SMARTTRACK representative, please see the information at this link.

Admission Office Updates

Admission Interviews are Now Available!

If you have a younger student who is interested in applying to St. Mark's for the 2024-2025 school year, interview appointments are now available. Please be sure you have completed the inquiry form; then contact the Admission Office at 508.786.6118 or admission@stmarksschool.org to book your appointment. If the Vericant and TOEFL requirements are applicable to your student, those will need to be submitted before contacting the office to schedule. More details can be found about Vericant and TOEFL on our website under the English language proficiency requirement information.

Fall Athletic Festival with Admission on Wednesday, October 18

St. Mark's School invites you and your prospective student(s) to join us for our Fall Athletic Festival with Admission on Wednesday, October 18, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Please mark your calendar for an informal opportunity to connect with coaches and admission representatives and cheer on our teams. Games may include football, soccer, cross-country, and field hockey. We will also have coaches available to chat with you about our winter and spring sports. Light refreshments will be available during the games. A preliminary game schedule and updated game information will be available on the website the week before the event. Registration is not required; however, we ask that you please RSVP to help us plan. We hope to see you there! Register online today.

Community & Equity Affairs

The Importance of Indigenous Peoples' Day

This week, Pathways Prefects reminded our St. Mark's Community of the importance of Indigenous Peoples' Day, which happens on the second Monday of October and honors indigenous American peoples by commemorating their history and culture. Prefect Anaya Strong ’24 provided several resources to help our School community celebrate this holiday, including: 

• Share about Indigenous Peoples' Day. Amplify the voices of Native Americans by posting on your story, posting on your page, or following Indigenous-led social media accounts.
• Read books by Indigenous peoples. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies by Bartolomé de las Casas, and An Indigenous People's History Of The United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz are a few examples to get you started!
• Purchase from Indigenous businesses like Urban Native Era, Etkie, Bison Naturals, and Sage & Oats.
• Donate to a cause such as: the American Indian College Fund, Coalition to Stop Violence against Native Women, and Seeding Sovereignty.
• Watch an Indigenous film or documentary. Indian Horse (2017), The Northlander (2010), and Wildhood (2021) are a few examples.
• Listen and learn via podcasts, including: All My Relations, The Red Nation Podcast, Toasted Sister Podcast, and Coffee with My Ma.
• Take a class to learn traditional skills.
• Visit a museum sharing Indigenous history.

Athletic Report

Family Weekend Athletic Schedule

Please join us to cheer on the Lions this Saturday! The full schedule of Family Weekend athletic contests can be found below. There will be an ice cream and a pizza food truck located by the Sargent Field turf, and we will host our first ever home volleyball match in the MFAC gym, as well.

Boys' Cross Country: 2:00 p.m. vs. BB&N

Girls' Cross Country: 2:30 p.m. vs. BB&N

Varsity & JV Field Hockey: 2:30 p.m. vs. St. George's

Varsity Football: 2:30 p.m. vs. St. George's

Varsity & JV Boys' Soccer: 2:30 p.m. vs. St. George's

Varsity & JV Girls' Soccer: 2:30 p.m. vs. St. George's

Varsity Girls' Volleyball: 2:30 p.m. vs. St. George's

Upcoming Events for Parents

Parent Phonathon: November 1

Parents, please volunteer to make calls! Enjoy an evening together while helping the School provide the best possible St. Mark’s experience for all students. We will gather off-campus in Southborough for a light dinner and a chance to connect with other parents (all forms are welcome and encouraged to attend!). Sign up on the volunteer form or contact Associate Director of Engagement and the Annual Fund Alanna Barnes.

Around the Quad

The St. Mark's orchestra enjoyed an outing to Symphony Hall in Boston earlier today for a High School Open Rehearsal with cellist Yo-Yo Ma who is performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra this weekend.

Photo by David Fontes

St. Mark’s School

25 Marlboro Road

Southborough, MA 01772

508.786.6000

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